From hand production to 3D printing – The history of digital fabrication

3D printing is one of the most disruptive and quickly-adopted technologies of the 21st century. The boom that has launched this industry to the forefront of the manufacturing world seems to have sprung out of nowhere. Suddenly, 3D printers became very common, seemingly overnight!

By Itamar Yona and Eitan Yona

In actuality, hundreds of years of advancements have led to this new age of technology. But where did it all begin? Let’s take a look at the roots of the additive manufacturing industry and how it has shaped our present state.

Where It All Began: The Industrial Revolutions

Although the initial Industrial Revolution did not involve 3D printing as we know it today, it is important to understand how it evolved and influenced our current situation. It all began in a period from 1760 to around the mid-1800s in Britain. Workers transitioned from hand production to new methods carried out with the help of machines. Chemical manufacturing, steam power, machine tools, and new iron and chemical production processes changed how goods were produced. Many industries, especially textiles, experienced huge booms in demand which eventually caused a decrease in price, making traditionally expensive goods attainable to more of the population. These advancements paved the way for even greater technological leaps later in the 19th century.

This Second Industrial Revolution allowed for the rapid movement of people and ideas all over the world thanks to booming railway, telegraph, and electrical systems that sprung up during the 1870’s. Contrary to the First Industrial Revolution, the innovations that took place during this period were more science-based and produced engineering feats on a large scale. One of the most important advancements was the mass-production of the lightbulb and continued electrification of major cities.

drupa 2020

Itamar Yona was one of the speakers at the drupa 2016 3D fab+print Touchpoint. drupa is an 11-day event for 2D printing and packaging production professionals, held every four years in Düsseldorf, Germany. Preparations for 3D fab+print at drupa 2020 have started and Itamar Yona has already confirmed he will be happy to participate again.

This next industrial revolution takes us to one of the most powerful and deadly developments ever created: nuclear power. Occurring nearly a whole century after the second revolution, this new dawn of technology witnessed the rise of other powerful progressions such as the transistor and microprocessor. Perhaps the greatest achievement from this period is the boom of telecommunications and computers.

Now we find ourselves facing the Fourth Industrial Revolution characterized by a fusion of technologies that blur the lines between the physical, digital, and biological spheres. It is marked by a number of technological breakthroughs in many fields including robotics, artificial intelligence, the blockchain, IoT, 3D printing, and autonomous vehicles, just to name a few!

From Then to Now

That was a nice history lesson, but let’s return to why you’re really here: 3D printing! We can now view the present through a lens of the past to compare how traditional manufacturing technology stacks up against modern digital fabrications. This industry is complex and there are many modern fabrication techniques, but for our purposes we are only going to focus on the two main manufacturing technologies: laser cutting technology and Computer Numerical Control.

Laser cutting technology may sounds like it belongs in a Star Trek episode, but it has been around for quite some time. The process includes a laser that cuts through material which is typically used for industrial manufacturing applications.

Computer Numerical Control, or CNC, is the automation of machine tools that are guided by computers, which are executing pre-programmed sequences of machine-controlled commands. This is in sharp contrast to manually controlled machines that were popular during the first and second industrial revolutions and required a large labour force to operate.

Both of these methods can be very complex, time consuming, and expensive. Luckily, we are experiencing the rise of 3D printing!

All Caught Up

So what exactly is 3D printing? Simply put, it is an additive manufacturing process in which material is joined or solidified under computer control to create a three-dimensional object. This is the direct opposite of traditional subtractive manufacturing that involved cutting out or hollowing metal and plastic to achieve the desired effect.

3D printing not only enables users to create complex objects but reduces the amount of material needed.

Latest News

Berlin-based GEFERTEC has invented a new patented technology for metal 3D printing using a wire feedstock instead of powders. GEFERTEC’s 3DMP process is a hallmark of their arc603 and arc605 machines, both of which use modern arc welding-based workflows.

The first European training course in Additive Manufacturing for space applications has just finished at the Politecnico di Milano was offered to Laurea Magistrale and PhD students by Dr. Tommaso Ghidini, who is currently Head of the Structures, Mechanisms and Materials Division at the European Space Agency.

At the "Open House", interested parties can take a guided tour behind the scenes of the manufacturer of metal-based additive manufacturing technology. They can learn in the production area how the machines are made for 3D printing.

Frank Herzog - the 'metal head' - is the founder and CEO of Concept Laser, a pioneer in the 3D printing industry and industrial additive manufacturing. Concept Laser's equipment is capable of manufacturing delicate jewellery and dental implants, as well as powerful engine blocks for trucks (see video).